BROOKLYN (VINnews) — Incoming New York City Councilman Ari Kagan has pledged to protect Coney Island’s iconic boardwalk from Mayor de Blasio.
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The soon-to-be Brooklyn representative, whose district includes Coney Island, says that he’ll fight the city’s plan to replace the wooden-planked boardwalk with plastic.
“We need to do everything possible to maintain the historical nature of the boardwalk,” said Kagan on Friday.
In 2018, the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the legendary boardwalk, first built in 1923, a historic landmark.
The councilman-elect said that while he supports the plan to revamp the 2.7-mile boardwalk, he does not agree with all the details–specifically the part about transforming the entire wooden boardwalk into plastic.
Kagan said that hardwood should remain intact along a famous five-block stretch that passes Luna Park, Deno’s Wonder Wheel, the Cyclone roller coaster and other attractions.
Two weeks ago, de Blasio announced a reconstruction plan which will use recycled plastic planks that are more sustainable than wood. The city has allocated $114.5 million for the first phase.
The specifics of the renovation will be determined by incoming Mayor Eric Adams, and Kagan said that he hopes to work with Adams to rescue the boardwalk from becoming fully plastic.
In 2015, Adams participated in a rally demanding that the boardwalk remain wood.
For years, people have complained about the run-down boardwalk, including protruding nails, wobbly portions, and missing boards. However some residents believe that ripping out the wooden planks and replacing them with plastic would be tantamount to desecration of a historic landmark.